The Academic Staff Union of Universities, Federal University of Technology Minna, Chapter, has called on the Federal Government not to treat its members as casual workers.
The Chairman of the union, Gbolahan Bolarin, who made this known during a protest in Minna on Friday, described the payment of half salaries to university lecturers as demeaning.
“Our members were paid for the number of days they had worked and this is unfortunate and demeaning to us,” Bolarin said.
“FUT Minna has resolved to reject in totality the reduction of Nigerian scholars to casual workers and attempts by the minister of labor and employment to destroy our public universities under any guise. We will not allow Chris Ngige to ridicule us because Nigerian lecturers are among the best in the world,” he added.
Speaking further, he noted that the half salary paid to lectures was an insult to academia, and Nigeria.
Bolarin said the Federal Government was pushing lecturers to a point where the aggression would be shifted to innocent students, adding that the union would do everything to resist the plans of the government.
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Also speaking, the President of the Students Union Government at the university, Shuaib Yahaya, said, “The survival of the Nigerian university system is not only the responsibility of the lecturers but the students and everyone.”
He said the SUG joined the protest to show support for the lectures and was willing to go to any extent to ensure that their lecturers were treated better.
“Whatever decision ASUU takes, we are in support and we will follow them and shut down any place. The government should get ready to kill all of us,” he added.
Meanwhile, lecturers at the Federal University, Lafia, Nasarawa State, have called for the immediate sack of the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige.
Speaking during a demonstration, the Chairman of ASUU in the institution, Adam Abdullahi, said, “The reason for this protest is to tell the Federal Government to sack the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, for his handling of the ASUU strike and the effect of that strike on the Nigerian educational system.
“The protest is also to tell the FG to pay us our withheld salaries. The Minister of Education has also failed. They paid us pro rata and we are not casual workers. Pro rata (payment) is the casualisation of the university workforce, and we are saying no to this.
“The government should listen to our demands and grant our requests. The demands that we put on the table before the strike are still on; none of them have been met.
“Anytime it was due for the government to pay, instead of paying, they create an emergency and we are saying no to this. So because of all these, academic activities in the institution will be grounded for today (Friday) and we may continue if nothing is done about our demands.”
One of the students of the university, Muhammed Musa, who spoke on behalf of others, expressed concern about the lingering crisis between the government and ASUU and appealed to the two parties to resolve the issues to enable the students to continue their studies without any hitches.
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Sokoto governor axes 15 district heads over insecurity, others
Sokoto State Government has sacked nine district heads for allegedly aiding insecurity and encouraging land racketeering.
The state government also sacked another six district heads said to have been irregularly appointed by the immediate past government of the state.
Abubakar Bawa, the Press Secretary to Governor Ahmed Aliyu, announced this while briefing newsmen on the development on Tuesday.
Those axed over alleged insecurity are the district heads of Unguwar Lalle, Yabo, Wamakko, Tulluwa, llela, Dogon Daji, Kebbe, Alkammu and Giyawa.
Bawa said the six district heads were dropped because of the way they were haphazardly appointed and their rejection by their people.
The affected six district heads are Marafan Tangaza, Sarkin Gabas Kalambaina, Bunun Gongono, Sarkin Kudun Yar Tsakkuwa, Sarkin Tambuwal and Sarkin Yamman Torankavwa.
“The cases involving District Heads of Isa, Kuchi, Kilgori and Gagi have been re commended for further investigations,” Bawa added.
However, Sarkin Yakin Binji, senior counselor in the Suktanate Council, was transferred to Nabunkari while the District Head of Sabon Birni was deployed to Gatawa.
Bawa said this followed the recommendations of the Committee on the Review of the appointments of Traditional rulers, Renaming of Tertiary Institutions and the Dissolution of Governing Boards of State Parastatals.
Passengers overpower bandits in Zamfara
In a courageous act, the family of a bride-to-be and a group of passengers thwarted a kidnapping attempt by killing a terrorist in Zamfara State.
PRNigeria reports that the incident unfolded when the family of the bride-to-be and other travellers were ambushed by bandits along the Talata Mafara-Gusau highway.
The bride’s family had embarked on a journey to purchase clothing and other wedding materials in Kano. However, their plans took a harrowing turn when armed bandits targeted them.
An eyewitness, who spoke to PRNigeria, revealed that the response was spontaneous once the bandits had selected their victims.
Despite one of the bandits managing to escape, the brave passengers captured two AK-47 rifles.
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Narrating how the events unfolded, the eyewitness said: “A few kilometres away from the Fangal Tama checkpoint, the travellers heard gunshots echoing all around.
‘’To their shock, they encountered two well-armed bandits on motorcycles, blocking the road and halting vehicles.
“The bandits immediately ordered the young woman (the bride-to-be), her father, mother, and two other relatives to exit their car.
‘’With guns pointed at them, the terrified family members were coerced to follow the bandits into the nearby forest.
“Realising the grave danger they faced in forced abduction, the passengers decided to act swiftly. They rallied together and launched an attack on one of the two bandits.
‘’In a fierce struggle, they managed to overpower him, resulting in his instant death. The other bandit, however, escaped, leaving behind his firearm.
“The courageous group retrieved the two guns and emerged from the forest. They promptly handed the weapons over to the military at a nearby checkpoint.’’
BREAKING: EFCC freezes 300 illegal forex accounts
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has frozen 300 illegal forex accounts trading on a peer-to-peer platform.
The EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, revealed that the accounts were suspended on Monday following a court order.
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Speaking in Abuja on Tuesday, Olukoyede explained that over $15bn passed through one of the forex platforms in the last one year, outside the financial regulations.
He said the EFCC action was taken to ensure the safety of the foreign exchange market and protect the economy.
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